A quarter-century after its last episode, “Melrose Place'' may soon be returning to television.
The popular soap opera was originally created by Darren Star as a spin-off of “Beverly Hills 90210,” but quickly became available on its own in prime time. His Fox series ended in 1999, but executives are eager to bring it back and have already roped in several stars.
Deadline reported Wednesday that original cast members Heather Locklear, Laura Leighton and Daphne Zuniga will be returning for the reboot. The reboot is being developed at CBS Studios and has already been purchased by legacy networks and streaming platforms.
According to the official synopsis shared with Deadline, the reboot plays on a classic melodrama trope: someone's untimely death, as the three central characters reunite in the storied Los Angeles area to mourn each other's deaths. The situation is depicted.
“The pressure cooker of a reunion soon reveals old traumas, old romances are rekindled, old grudges are rekindled, and new secrets are revealed…throwing the characters into a chaotic drama reminiscent of the past. ” he adds. “However, it incorporates a more modern perspective.”
Locklear, Leighton, and Zuniga will reportedly reprise their respective characters Amanda Woodward, Sidney Andrews, and Joe Reynolds. However, fans may remember that Andrews was seemingly killed off in the original, and note that Layton will return nonetheless.
The original series followed a group of neighbors living in a West Hollywood apartment complex. It chronicled their romantic, irreverent, and often fatal entanglements. It aired for seven seasons from 1992 to 1999, and was rebooted for just one season in 2009.
Fans may remember that Locklear, Layton, and Zuniga reprized their characters in a short-lived revival, with Layton's character in particular being killed off again. Meanwhile, the original series turned budding actors into stars and became a staple of '90s television.
The show's main cast has changed over the years, including Kristin Davis before “Sex and the City,” Alyssa Milano before “Charmed,” and four from ABC's “Desperate Housewives” series. It is noteworthy that it included such a future star as Marcia Cross, who became one of the central characters in the film. .
Locklear had already appeared on popular shows such as “Dynasty'' when she was cast as a recurring character on “Melrose.'' She became a series regular after her first season, and Zuniga was a regular through her first four seasons. Layton's character was introduced at the end of season 1 and was a series regular until she was presumed dead in season 5.
The 2009 revival was a notable flop, despite guest appearances by the core trio. It remains to be seen whether CBS Studios will be able to recapture the 1990s magic that made the original so beloved, but Deadline reports that “more original cast members” could be returning. There is.
As one of the show's original taglines warned, “No one is innocent on Melrose Place.”
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